Avatar based on trip

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing a program and a method for generating an avatar based on trip information. The program and method include determining that one or more criteria associated with a user correspond to a trip taken by the user during a given time interval; retrieving a plurality of media generated by a client device of the user during the given time interval; automatically selecting a plurality of avatar customizations to represent the trip based on the plurality of media generated by the user during the given time interval; automatically generating a trip-based avatar for the user based on the plurality of avatar customizations; and causing display of the trip-based avatar.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/929,393, filed Apr. 30, 2020, which claims the benefit of priority toU.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/988,078, filed on Mar. 11,2020, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to generating avatars andproviding trip information.

BACKGROUND

Social network sites are some of the most popularly, if not the mostpopularly, visited sites on the Internet. Social networks provide a vastamount of information about users and their friends. Such informationincludes current status of users and their interests.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numeralsmay describe similar components in different views. To easily identifythe discussion of any particular element or act, the most significantdigit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number inwhich that element is first introduced. Some embodiments are illustratedby way of example, and not limitation, in the figures of theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example messaging system forexchanging data (e.g., messages and associated content) over a network,according to example embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating data which may be stored inthe database of a messaging server system, according to exampleembodiments.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a messagegenerated by a messaging client application for communication, accordingto example embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example trip avatar generationsystem, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating example operations of the trip avatargeneration system, according to example embodiments.

FIGS. 6-8 are illustrative inputs and outputs of the trip avatargeneration system, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a representative softwarearchitecture, which may be used in conjunction with various hardwarearchitectures herein described, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating components of a machine able toread instructions from a machine-readable medium (e.g., amachine-readable storage medium) and perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein, according to example embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description that follows includes systems, methods, techniques,instruction sequences, and computing machine program products thatembody illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. In the followingdescription, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific detailsare set forth in order to provide an understanding of variousembodiments. It will be evident, however, to those skilled in the art,that embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. Ingeneral, well-known instruction instances, protocols, structures, andtechniques are not necessarily shown in detail.

Typically, information about the recent activities various usersperformed is presented in an unorganized generic manner. In order todiscern where a given user currently is or where the user has been, theuser's friends have to navigate through a vast amount of content andvarious pages of information. For example, the friends have to navigatethrough posts made by the user and photos taken by the user to determinewhat the user is currently doing or where the user has recently been.While such systems work well for presenting such information, the lackof visual appeal or connection to a specific user and the need tomanually navigate through multiple pages of information, makes them lessattractive and less intuitive to use, which increases their overallcomplexity.

The disclosed embodiments improve the efficiency of using the electronicdevice by incorporating one or more avatars into a messaging applicationto visually represent a recent trip taken by a user. Specifically,according to some embodiments, various features or customizations of theone or more avatars are selected by automatically processing variouscontent and media generated by a user while on a trip to represent thetrip taken by the user. According to the disclosed embodiments, adetermination is made that one or more criteria associated with a user,such as distance traveled and time spent away from a home location,correspond to a trip taken by the user during a given time interval. Aplurality of media generated by a client device of the user during thegiven time interval is retrieved. A plurality of avatar customizationsis automatically selected to represent the trip based on the pluralityof media, such as an avatar flying on a plane to the destination of thetrip, wearing certain clothing corresponding to the destination, andcarrying a suitcase. A trip-based avatar for the user is thenautomatically generated based on the plurality of customizations.

By presenting to a user's friend or the user themselves with thecustomized avatar for a given trip recently taken by the user, the userand the user's friends are provided with a simple and intuitiveinterface for obtaining information about the recent trip the user took.Namely, with minimal user input, recent trip information can be visuallyascertained by any given user, such as through the avatar showingsomeone's clothing, mode of transportation, actions, and facialexpressions. This way, users do not need to navigate through a multitudeof different pages of information to determine a trip information for atrip recently taken by a given user. This improves the overallefficiencies of the computing device and reduces complexities in usingthe messaging application.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example messaging system 100 forexchanging data (e.g., messages and associated content) over a network106. The messaging system 100 includes multiple client devices 102, eachof which hosts a number of applications, including a messaging clientapplication 104. Each messaging client application 104 iscommunicatively coupled to other instances of the messaging clientapplication 104 and a messaging server system 108 via a network 106(e.g., the Internet).

Accordingly, each messaging client application 104 is able tocommunicate and exchange data with another messaging client application104 and with the messaging server system 108 via the network 106. Thedata exchanged between messaging client applications 104 and between amessaging client application 104 and the messaging server system 108includes functions (e.g., commands to invoke functions) as well aspayload data (e.g., text, audio, video, or other multimedia data).

In some embodiments, the messaging client applications 104 detects thatone or more criteria of a user are indicative of a trip taken by theuser. In response, the messaging client applications 104 triggersgeneration of an avatar to represent the trip. As an example, themessaging client applications 104 determines a home location of theuser. This home location may be specified by the user or may beautomatically determined based on measuring how long a user spends atthe same location for a specified period of time. For example, themessaging client applications 104 determines that the user spends morethan 80% of the user's time at the same home location (e.g., within a 25mile radius of a specific GPS coordinate or address). In response, themessaging client applications 104 sets the specific GPS coordinate oraddress to be the home location.

The messaging client applications 104 determines that the client device102 has left the home location. In response, the messaging clientapplications 104 measures how long the user spends away from the homelocation. The messaging client applications 104 stores one or more newdestination locations corresponding to the location away from the homelocation. In some cases, the messaging client applications 104 beginsstoring the one or more destination locations when a distance betweenthe home location and the destination locations exceeds a specifieddistance threshold (e.g., 60 miles). The messaging client applications104 determines when the client device 102 has returned to the homelocation after spending time at the destination locations. In responseto determining that the client device 102 has spent more than aspecified threshold (e.g., 24 hours) at the home location afterreturning from the destination locations, the messaging clientapplications 104 determines that one or more criteria of a user areindicative of a trip taken by the user. In such cases, the messagingclient applications 104 triggers generation of a trip avatar torepresent the destination locations and the trip taken by the user.While certain functions are discussed as being performed by themessaging client applications 104, any one of these functions can bealternatively performed by a remote server (e.g., messaging serversystem 108).

In some embodiments, the messaging client applications 104 identifies aset of content or media generated by the user or the client device 102while at the one or more destination locations. The messaging clientapplications 104 processes the content to generate a collection of tagsthat are descriptive of the content. The messaging client applications104 ranks the collection of tags to identify a set of tags (e.g., 3 tagsor less) that have a highest priority. In some cases, the messagingclient applications 104 selects one tag from the collection of tags foreach of a plurality of categories for inclusion in the set of tags. Forexample, a first tag in the collection of tags is indicative of a facialexpression and is selected for inclusion in the set of tags and a secondtag in the collection of tags is indicative of a mode of transportationused to reach the destinations and is selected for inclusion in the setof tags. A set of avatar customizations corresponding to the set of tagsis selected and used to customize a trip avatar for presentation to theuser or the user's friends. In some cases, the trip avatar is presentedon a map background that indicates the one or more destinations.

In some embodiments, the messaging client applications 104 triggersgeneration of the trip avatar on the basis of one or more conditionsbeing satisfied. For example, the messaging client applications 104triggers generation of the trip avatar if the messaging clientapplications 104 determines that the user generated three or more mediaassets or content while on the trip (e.g., while the user was at the oneor more destinations) and that the three or more media assets havegeographical tags that are more than 30 miles away from the homelocation. The messaging client applications 104 may also trigger thegeneration of the trip avatar in response to determining that the userhas returned to the home location more than 24 hours ago. In some cases,the messaging client applications 104 may find multiple trips taken bythe user and in such cases, the messaging client applications 104selects the trip for customizing the trip avatar that was taken lessthan 6 months ago.

In some cases, the messaging client applications 104 adds a title to atile that includes the trip avatar. The title is automatically generatedbased on one or more criteria. For example, a first type of title isselected if the client device 102 returned to the home location from theone or more destinations less than two weeks ago. As another example, asecond type of title is selected if the client device 102 visitedmultiple destinations while on the trip, where each destination is morethan a threshold distance (e.g., 30 miles) from another destination andmore than another threshold distance (e.g., 60 miles) from the homelocation. The second type of title may further be conditioned forselection on the basis of determining that more than three media assetswere generated at each of the multiple destinations. In some cases, thetile that includes the trip avatar may automatically play thumbnailversions of the media assets captured by the client device 102 whilevisiting the one or more destinations. For example, a two second clip isgenerated for each video captured by the client device 102. The twosecond clips are automatically and sequentially displayed along with anyphotos that were captured while visiting the one or more destinations. Aone second pause is added while presenting the photos and transitioningto another photo or video in the sequence. The media assets in thesequence transition from one to the next with a specific animation(e.g., a cross-fade animation). The sequence loops back to the beginningwhen the end of the sequence and the last photo or video clip ispresented.

Avatar customizations for the trip avatar include avatar closing, modeof transportation, friend avatars, setting or background, text, facialexpressions, or activities. As an example, the messaging clientapplications 104 selects a first avatar customization based on aduration of the trip (e.g., based on how long the client device 102spent away from the home location). Specifically, if the client device102 spent less than a week away from the home location, the messagingclient applications 104 randomly selects between a plurality of avatarcustomizations of a first type. The first type of the plurality ofavatar customizations may include an avatar wearing a briefcase or notcarrying any suitcase. If the client device 102 spent more than a weekaway from the home location, the messaging client applications 104randomly selects between a plurality of avatar customizations of asecond type. The second type of the plurality of avatar customizationsmay include an avatar wearing a suitcase (a carrying case larger thanthe briefcase) and having a first pose (dragging the suitcase) or theavatar wearing a suitcase and having a second pose (leaning up againstthe suitcase).

As another example, the messaging client applications 104 selects asecond avatar customization based on a distance of the trip (e.g., basedon how far the client device 102 traveled away from the home location).Specifically, if the client device 102 traveled more than 400 miles awayfrom the home location, the messaging client applications 104 randomlyselects between a plurality of avatar customizations of a third type.The third type of the plurality of avatar customizations may include anavatar flying in a plane or using a first mode of transportation (planeor boat). If the client device 102 traveled less than 200 miles awayfrom the home location, the messaging client applications 104 randomlyselects between a plurality of avatar customizations of a fourth type.The fourth type of the plurality of avatar customizations may include anavatar in a car or using a second mode of transportation (car, train orbus).

The messaging client applications 104 combines the selected avatarcustomizations (e.g., the first avatar customization and the secondavatar customization) to generate the travel avatar. For example, themessaging client applications 104 generates a travel avatar that depictsan avatar driving in a car and carrying a briefcase in the trunk inresponse to determining that the client device 102 traveled less than200 miles away from the home location and that the client device 102spent less than a week away from the home location. In some cases, themessaging client applications 104 determines that the user traveled tothe one or more destinations with a friend. In such cases, the messagingclient applications 104 generates a second travel avatar for the friendand includes the second travel avatar in the tile that presents thetravel avatar for the user. Namely, the tile includes two travel avatarsto indicate that the user traveled to the destinations with the friendand to represent the activities the friends performed while on the trip.In some cases, the messaging client applications 104 compares theweather at the one or more destinations with typical weather at the homelocation. If the weather differs between the travel destinations and thehome location, the messaging client applications 104 customizes anarticle of clothing of the travel avatar to represent the weather at thetravel destinations. For example, if the user lives in a tropicalclimate and has traveled to Canada, the messaging client applications104 may add a parka or coat to the travel avatar to represent the colderweather at the travel destination.

The messaging server system 108 provides server-side functionality viathe network 106 to a particular messaging client application 104. Whilecertain functions of the messaging system 100 are described herein asbeing performed by either a messaging client application 104 or by themessaging server system 108, it will be appreciated that the location ofcertain functionality either within the messaging client application 104or the messaging server system 108 is a design choice. For example, itmay be technically preferable to initially deploy certain technology andfunctionality within the messaging server system 108, but to latermigrate this technology and functionality to the messaging clientapplication 104 where a client device 102 has a sufficient processingcapacity.

The messaging server system 108 supports various services and operationsthat are provided to the messaging client application 104. Suchoperations include transmitting data to, receiving data from, andprocessing data generated by the messaging client application 104. Thisdata may include message content, client device information, geolocationinformation, media annotation and overlays, virtual objects, messagecontent persistence conditions, social network information, and liveevent information, as examples. Data exchanges within the messagingsystem 100 are invoked and controlled through functions available viauser interfaces (UIs) of the messaging client application 104.

Turning now specifically to the messaging server system 108, anApplication Program Interface (API) server 110 is coupled to, andprovides a programmatic interface to, an application server 112. Theapplication server 112 is communicatively coupled to a database server118, which facilitates access to a database 120 in which is stored dataassociated with messages processed by the application server 112.

Dealing specifically with the API server 110, this server 110 receivesand transmits message data (e.g., commands and message payloads) betweenthe client device 102 and the application server 112. Specifically, theAPI server 110 provides a set of interfaces (e.g., routines andprotocols) that can be called or queried by the messaging clientapplication 104 in order to invoke functionality of the applicationserver 112. The API server 110 exposes various functions supported bythe application server 112, including account registration; loginfunctionality; the sending of messages, via the application server 112,from a particular messaging client application 104 to another messagingclient application 104; the sending of media files (e.g., images orvideo) from a messaging client application 104 to the messaging serverapplication 114, and for possible access by another messaging clientapplication 104; the setting of a collection of media data (e.g.,story); the retrieval of such collections; the retrieval of a list offriends of a user of a client device 102; the retrieval of messages andcontent; the adding and deleting of friends to a social graph; thelocation of friends within a social graph; access to user conversationdata; access to avatar information stored on messaging server system108; and opening an application event (e.g., relating to the messagingclient application 104).

The application server 112 hosts a number of applications andsubsystems, including a messaging server application 114, an imageprocessing system 116, a social network system 122, and the trip avatargeneration system 124. The messaging server application 114 implements anumber of message processing technologies and functions, particularlyrelated to the aggregation and other processing of content (e.g.,textual and multimedia content) included in messages received frommultiple instances of the messaging client application 104. As will bedescribed in further detail, the text and media content from multiplesources may be aggregated into collections of content (e.g., calledstories or galleries). These collections are then made available, by themessaging server application 114, to the messaging client application104. Other processor- and memory-intensive processing of data may alsobe performed server-side by the messaging server application 114, inview of the hardware requirements for such processing.

The application server 112 also includes an image processing system 116that is dedicated to performing various image processing operations,typically with respect to images or video received within the payload ofa message at the messaging server application 114. A portion of theimage processing system 116 may also be implemented by the trip avatargeneration system 124.

The social network system 122 supports various social networkingfunctions and services and makes these functions and services availableto the messaging server application 114. To this end, the social networksystem 122 maintains and accesses an entity graph within the database120. Examples of functions and services supported by the social networksystem 122 include the identification of other users of the messagingsystem 100 with which a particular user has relationships or is“following” and also the identification of other entities and interestsof a particular user. Such other users may be referred to as the user'sfriends. Social network system 122 may access location informationassociated with each of the user's friends to determine where they liveor are currently located geographically. Social network system 122 maymaintain a location profile for each of the user's friends indicatingthe geographical location where the user's friends live.

The application server 112 is communicatively coupled to a databaseserver 118, which facilitates access to a database 120 in which isstored data associated with messages processed by the messaging serverapplication 114.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram 200 illustrating data, which may be storedin the database 120 of the messaging server system 108, according tocertain example embodiments. While the content of the database 120 isshown to comprise a number of tables, it will be appreciated that thedata could be stored in other types of data structures (e.g., as anobject-oriented database).

The database 120 includes message data stored within a message table214. An entity table 202 stores entity data, including an entity graph204. Entities for which records are maintained within the entity table202 may include individuals, corporate entities, organizations, objects,places, events, and so forth. Regardless of type, any entity regardingwhich the messaging server system 108 stores data may be a recognizedentity. Each entity is provided with a unique identifier, as well as anentity type identifier (not shown).

The entity graph 204 furthermore stores information regardingrelationships and associations between entities. Such relationships maybe social, professional (e.g., work at a common corporation ororganization), interest-based, or activity-based, merely for example.

Message table 214 may store a collection of conversations between a userand one or more friends or entities. Message table 214 may includevarious attributes of each conversation, such as the list ofparticipants, the size of the conversation (e.g., number of users and/ornumber of messages), the chat color of the conversation, a uniqueidentifier for the conversation, and any other conversation relatedfeature(s).

The database 120 also stores annotation data, in the example form offilters, in an annotation table 212. Database 120 also stores annotatedcontent received in the annotation table 212. Filters for which data isstored within the annotation table 212 are associated with and appliedto videos (for which data is stored in a video table 210) and/or images(for which data is stored in an image table 208). Filters, in oneexample, are overlays that are displayed as overlaid on an image orvideo during presentation to a recipient user. Filters may be of varioustypes, including user-selected filters from a gallery of filterspresented to a sending user by the messaging client application 104 whenthe sending user is composing a message. Other types of filters includegeolocation filters (also known as geo-filters), which may be presentedto a sending user based on geographic location. For example, geolocationfilters specific to a neighborhood or special location may be presentedwithin a UI by the messaging client application 104, based ongeolocation information determined by a Global Positioning System (GPS)unit of the client device 102. Another type of filter is a data filter,which may be selectively presented to a sending user by the messagingclient application 104, based on other inputs or information gathered bythe client device 102 during the message creation process. Examples ofdata filters include current temperature at a specific location, acurrent speed at which a sending user is traveling, battery life for aclient device 102, or the current time.

Other annotation data that may be stored within the image table 208 isso-called “LENS” data. A “LENS” may be a real-time special effect andsound that may be added to an image or a video.

As mentioned above, the video table 210 stores video data which, in oneembodiment, is associated with messages for which records are maintainedwithin the message table 214. Similarly, the image table 208 storesimage data associated with messages for which message data is stored inthe entity table 202. The entity table 202 may associate variousannotations from the annotation table 212 with various images and videosstored in the image table 208 and the video table 210.

Trip avatar customization(s) 207 stores avatar attributes,customizations or parameters the trip avatar generation system 124 usesto generate avatars representing different trip parameters. For example,trip avatar customization(s) 207 associates a first plurality of tripavatar customizations for a first trip criterion (e.g., if the trip wasof a first duration less than a threshold) and a second plurality oftrip avatar customizations for a second trip criterion (e.g., if thetrip was of a second duration greater than the threshold). The tripavatar customizations may include facial expressions, animationcharacteristics, avatar accessories (e.g., umbrella), avatar clothing,mode of transportation, setting, activities, background and avatarposes. The trip avatar customization(s) 207 may be stored as genericinstructions that are used to modify a specific avatar to depict thegiven set of avatar customizations. For example, a first avatar thatincludes features specific to a first user (e.g., hair style and skincolor) may be adjusted based on a first set of trip avatarcustomization(s) 207 to depict a certain pose and have a certain set ofclothing associated with the first set of trip avatar customization(s)207. A second avatar that includes features specific to a second usermay be adjusted based on the same first set of trip avatarcustomization(s) 207 to depict the same certain pose and have the samecertain set of clothing associated with the first set of avatar tripavatar customization(s) 207 as the first avatar while maintaining thefeatures that are unique to the second user.

Each avatar customization in the trip avatar customization(s) 207 may beassociated with one or more tags. As the trip avatar generation system124 generates or retrieves tags for different media generated by theclient device 102 while on the trip, the trip avatar generation system124 can select the specific avatar customization that is associated withthe generated or retrieved tag. In some cases, multiple avatarcustomizations may be associated with the same tag. In such cases, thetrip avatar generation system 124 selects randomly one of the multipleavatar customizations that are associated with the same tag. In somecases, a given avatar customization tag may be associated with a rarityfactor indicating how rare the specific tag is to be encountered. Forexample, a spaceship may be associated with a maximum rarity factorbecause flying on a spaceship is an extremely rare activity while eatingmay be associated with the lowest rarity factor because eating is acommonly done activity. Using the rarity factor computed for the mediacaptured or generated by the client device 102 while on the trip, thetrip avatar generation system 124 selects a given trip avatarcustomization 207 that is associated with the highest rarity factor foruse in modifying the trip avatar.

A story table 206 stores data regarding collections of messages andassociated image, video, or audio data, which are compiled into acollection (e.g., a story or a gallery). The creation of a particularcollection may be initiated by a particular user (e.g., each user forwhich a record is maintained in the entity table 202). A user may createa “personal story” in the form of a collection of content that has beencreated and sent/broadcast by that user. To this end, the UI of themessaging client application 104 may include an icon that isuser-selectable to enable a sending user to add specific content to hisor her personal story.

A collection may also constitute a “live story,” which is a collectionof content from multiple users that is created manually, automatically,or using a combination of manual and automatic techniques. For example,a “live story” may constitute a curated stream of user-submitted contentfrom various locations and events. Users whose client devices havelocation services enabled and are at a common location event at aparticular time may, for example, be presented with an option, via a UIof the messaging client application 104, to contribute content to aparticular live story. The live story may be identified to the user bythe messaging client application 104 based on his or her location. Theend result is a “live story” told from a community perspective.

A further type of content collection is known as a “location story,”which enables a user whose client device 102 is located within aspecific geographic location (e.g., on a college or university campus)to contribute to a particular collection. In some embodiments, acontribution to a location story may require a second degree ofauthentication to verify that the end user belongs to a specificorganization or other entity (e.g., is a student on the universitycampus).

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a message 300,according to some embodiments, generated by a messaging clientapplication 104 for communication to a further messaging clientapplication 104 or the messaging server application 114. The content ofa particular message 300 is used to populate the message table 214stored within the database 120, accessible by the messaging serverapplication 114. Similarly, the content of a message 300 is stored inmemory as “in-transit” or “in-flight” data of the client device 102 orthe application server 112. The message 300 is shown to include thefollowing components:

-   -   A message identifier 302: a unique identifier that identifies        the message 300.    -   A message text payload 304: text, to be generated by a user via        a UI of the client device 102 and that is included in the        message 300.    -   A message image payload 306: image data, captured by a camera        component of a client device 102 or retrieved from memory of a        client device 102, and that is included in the message 300.    -   A message video payload 308: video data, captured by a camera        component or retrieved from a memory component of the client        device 102 and that is included in the message 300.    -   A message audio payload 310: audio data, captured by a        microphone or retrieved from the memory component of the client        device 102, and that is included in the message 300.    -   Message annotations 312: annotation data (e.g., filters,        stickers, or other enhancements) that represents annotations to        be applied to message image payload 306, message video payload        308, or message audio payload 310 of the message 300.    -   A message duration parameter 314: parameter value indicating, in        seconds, the amount of time for which content of the message        (e.g., the message image payload 306, message video payload 308,        message audio payload 310) is to be presented or made accessible        to a user via the messaging client application 104.    -   A message geolocation parameter 316: geolocation data (e.g.,        latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates) associated with the        content payload of the message. Multiple message geolocation        parameter 316 values may be included in the payload, with each        of these parameter values being associated with respect to        content items included in the content (e.g., a specific image        within the message image payload 306, or a specific video in the        message video payload 308).    -   A message story identifier 318: identifier value identifying one        or more content collections (e.g., “stories”) with which a        particular content item in the message image payload 306 of the        message 300 is associated. For example, multiple images within        the message image payload 306 may each be associated with        multiple content collections using identifier values.    -   A message tag 320: each message 300 may be tagged with multiple        tags, each of which is indicative of the subject matter of        content included in the message payload. For example, where a        particular image included in the message image payload 306        depicts an animal (e.g., a lion), a tag value may be included        within the message tag 320 that is indicative of the relevant        animal. Tag values may be generated manually, based on user        input, or may be automatically generated using, for example,        image recognition.    -   A message sender identifier 322: an identifier (e.g., a        messaging system identifier, email address, or device        identifier) indicative of a user of the client device 102 on        which the message 300 was generated and from which the message        300 was sent.    -   A message receiver identifier 324: an identifier (e.g., a        messaging system identifier, email address, or device        identifier) indicative of user(s) of the client device 102 to        which the message 300 is addressed. In the case of a        conversation between multiple users, the identifier may indicate        each user involved in the conversation.

The contents (e.g., values) of the various components of message 300 maybe pointers to locations in tables within which content data values arestored. For example, an image value in the message image payload 306 maybe a pointer to (or address of) a location within an image table 208.Similarly, values within the message video payload 308 may point to datastored within a video table 210, values stored within the messageannotations 312 may point to data stored in an annotation table 212,values stored within the message story identifier 318 may point to datastored in a story table 206, and values stored within the message senderidentifier 322 and the message receiver identifier 324 may point to userrecords stored within an entity table 202.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example trip avatar generationsystem 124, according to example embodiments. Trip avatar generationsystem 124 includes a trip detection module 414, a user(s) locationmodule 419, an avatar customization selection module 416, and an avatardisplay module 420.

User(s) location module 419 accesses a GPS system of the client device102 for a given user to determine the geographical location of theclient device 102. The user location module 419 identifies a homelocation of the client device 102 by identifying a geographical locationthat the client device 102 is in for a majority of the time (e.g., morethan 80% of the time). In some cases, the user location module 419receives user input that specifies the home location by providing theaddress or GPS location of the home address. The user location module419 generates a radius (e.g., 25 miles) around the home location. Theuser location module 419 determines when the client device 102 leavesthe radius of the home location and in response marks the new locationsas a potential travel destination. The user location module 419 measureshow long the client device 102 spends away from the home location at oneor more potential travel destinations. The user location module 419stores the destination locations of each potential travel destinationalong with the time stamps when the potential travel destinations werevisited by the client device 102.

Trip detection module 414 processes the data from the user locationmodule 419 to determine when a given trip a user has taken began andended. For example, the trip detection module 414 determines a startingtime of when the client device 102 left the home location and an endingtime of when the client device 102 returned to the home location. If thedifference between the starting time and the ending time exceeds athreshold (e.g., more than 2 days), the trip detection module 414determines that the client device 102 was on a trip between the startingtime and the ending time. The trip detection module 414 determineswhether the client device has stayed at the home location for more thana threshold period of time (e.g., more than 24 hours) after returning tothe home location. In response, the trip detection module 414 maytrigger generation of a trip avatar to represent the trip taken by theuser between the starting time and the ending time.

The trip detection module 414 determines one or more parameters of thetrip. For example, the trip detection module 414 determines weather atthe destinations visited away from the home location. The trip detectionmodule 414 determines if the weather at the destinations differs fromthe weather at the home location. If so, the trip detection module 414instructs the avatar customization selection module 416 to select anavatar customization to represent the weather at the destinations.

The trip detection module 414 determines a distance between the homelocation and the travel destinations. For example, the trip detectionmodule 414 determines whether the distance between the home location andthe travel destinations exceeds a specified threshold (e.g., 400 miles).If so, the trip detection module 414 instructs the avatar customizationselection module 416 to select an avatar customization to represent afirst mode of transportation (e.g., a plane). Otherwise, if the distanceis less than the specified threshold but more than another threshold(e.g., 60 miles), the trip detection module 414 instructs the avatarcustomization selection module 416 to select an avatar customization torepresent a second mode of transportation (a car).

The trip detection module 414 determines how long the client device 102was on the trip based on a difference between the start and end time ofthe trip. For example, the trip detection module 414 determines whetherthe duration of the trip exceeds a threshold (e.g., 2 weeks). If so, thetrip detection module 414 instructs the avatar customization selectionmodule 416 to select an avatar customization to represent a first typeof carrying case (e.g., a suitcase). Otherwise, if the trip duration isless than the threshold, the trip detection module 414 instructs theavatar customization selection module 416 to select an avatarcustomization to represent a second type of carrying case (e.g., abriefcase).

In some embodiments, the trip detection module 414 retrieves media(e.g., posts to a social network, messages exchanged between users,videos, and images) generated by the client device 102 while the clientdevice 102 was away from the home location and on the trip. For example,the trip detection module 414 retrieves a collection of media generatedby the client device 102 between the start time and end time of thetrip. The trip detection module 414 processes the media to generate aplurality of tags (e.g., metadata that is descriptive of each mediaasset). The trip detection module 414 ranks the plurality of tags basedon one or more criteria (e.g., frequency of occurrence, rarity factor,user preferences, importance, and so forth). The trip detection module414 selects a subset of the ranked plurality of tags (e.g., selects tagsassociated with a rank that exceeds a threshold). The trip detectionmodule 414 provides the selected subset of ranked tags to the avatarcustomization selection module 416. The avatar customization selectionmodule 416 selects a combination of avatar customizations thatcorrespond to the selected subset of ranked tags. In some cases, thetrip detection module 414 determines that one of the tags associatedwith the media corresponds to a rare event or activity (e.g., has ararity factor that exceeds a threshold). In such circumstances, the tripdetection module 414 associates a highest rank to this tag to ensurethat the tag is used to select an avatar customization. For example, ifthe trip detection module 414 determines that the client device 102generated content that is associated with space travel, the tripdetection module 414 generates a space travel activity tag indicative ofspace travel and associates a maximum rank to this tag as space travelis associated with a very high rarity factor that exceeds a threshold.In this case, the avatar customization selection module 416 generates anavatar that appears to be on a spaceship to represent the space travelactivity tag.

The trip detection module 414 selects and ranks tags on the basis of howmany media assets are associated with the same tag. Certain tags areselected for inclusion in the subset that is used to customize theavatar if a certain quantity of media assets is generated and isassociated with the same tag. If less than a threshold quantity of mediaassets is associated with the same tag, the particular tag is notincluded in the subset that is used to select an avatar customization.For example, the trip detection module 414 determines a first number ofthe plurality of media associated with a same first tag of the pluralityof tags and determines a second number of the plurality of mediaassociated with a same second tag of the plurality of tags. The tripdetection module 414 selects a first customization of the plurality ofavatar customizations associated with the same first tag in response todetermining that the first number exceeds a first minimum thresholdvalue. The trip detection module 414 selects a second customization ofthe plurality of avatar customizations associated with the same secondtag in response to determining that the second number exceeds a secondminimum threshold value. The second minimum threshold value may begreater than the first minimum threshold value.

As an example, the trip detection module 414 may identify 15 differentpictures of food that were taken while the client device 102 was on thetrip and 3 pictures of a sail boat. The trip detection module 414 maydetermine that a food tag is associated with the pictures of food andthat a rare activity tag is associated with the sail boat. The tripdetection module 414 may further determine that the food tag isassociated with a minimum quantity of 35 and that the rare activity tagis associated with a minimum quantity of 2. In this case, the tripdetection module 414 may cause the avatar customization selection module416 to select a customization that represents the sail boat activitybecause the 3 pictures taken of the sail boat exceeds the minimumquantity of 2. The trip detection module 414 may prevent the avatarcustomization selection module 416 from selecting a customization thatrepresents food because the 15 pictures of food does not exceed theminimum quantity of 35. The minimum quantities may be adjusted based onuser preferences. So if a given user never takes pictures of food butoften rides sail boats, the minimum quantity of the food tag may bedecreased to 3 and the minimum quantity of the rare activity tag may beincreased to 10. In this way, the trip detection module 414 instructsthe avatar customization selection module 416 to select avatarcustomizations that represent the most important and memorable eventsthat the user encountered while on the trip.

The trip detection module 414 determines whether one or more other userswere together with the user on the trip. For example, the trip detectionmodule 414 accesses location information for friends of the user. Thetrip detection module 414 determines whether the location informationfor the friends overlaps in time and place with the destinationlocations that the client device 102 was in between the start and endtime of the trip. If so, the trip detection module 414 determines thatthe friends were on the same trip with the user. In some cases, the tripdetection module 414 generates a notification or prompt requesting theuser to confirm that the friends were on the same trip. In response todetermining that the friends were on the same trip, the trip detectionmodule 414 generates a travel avatar for the friends and includes thetravel avatar for the friends in the same display as the travel avatarfor the user.

The trip detection module 414 determines various activities the userperformed while on the trip based on the tags associated with the mediagenerated by the client device 102 while on the trip. The trip detectionmodule 414 ranks the activities and selects the tag associated with thehighest ranked activity for selection of an avatar customization.

Avatar display module 420 retrieves an avatar for the user associatedwith the client device 102. The avatar display module 420 adjusts theavatar for the user based on a combination of avatar customizationreceived from the avatar customization selection module 416. The avatardisplay module 420 retrieves a map corresponding to the traveldestinations of the client device 102. The avatar display module 420adds the travel avatar with the modified customizations to the map tocreate an interactive tile that represents the trip. The tile may bepresented to the user of the client device 102 or to friends of theuser. The tile may be selected to access a set of media captured by theclient device 102 while on the trip and to share the media with one ormore other users. In some cases, the tile includes multiple avatars ifmore than one user was on the same trip. Namely, the avatar displaymodule 420 may include a first travel avatar for the user of the clientdevice 102 and a second travel avatar for a friend of the user that wason the same trip as the user.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating example operations of the trip avatargeneration system 124 in performing process 500, according to exampleembodiments. The process 500 may be embodied in computer-readableinstructions for execution by one or more processors such that theoperations of the process 500 may be performed in part or in whole bythe functional components of the messaging server system 108;accordingly, the process 500 is described below by way of example withreference thereto. However, in other embodiments, at least some of theoperations of the process 500 may be deployed on various other hardwareconfigurations. The process 500 is therefore not intended to be limitedto the messaging server system 108 and can be implemented in whole, orin part, by any other component. Some or all of the operations ofprocess 500 can be in parallel, out of order, or entirely omitted.

At operation 502, the trip avatar generation system 124 determines thatone or more criteria associated with a user correspond to a trip takenby the user during a given time interval. For example, the trip avatargeneration system 124 compares a distance traveled by a client deviceaway from a home location and time spent away from the home location toa threshold. If the distance traveled exceeds the threshold and the timespent exceeds a time threshold, the trip avatar generation system 124determines that one or more criteria associated with the user correspondto a trip taken by the user.

At operation 503, the trip avatar generation system 124 retrieves aplurality of media generated by a client device of the user during thegiven time interval. For example, the trip avatar generation system 124obtains videos, comments, images, and so forth generated by the userusing the client device 102 during the time interval corresponding tothe trip. The trip avatar generation system 124 selects the media byanalyzing time stamps of the media assets and verifying that the timestamps are within the trip time interval.

At operation 504, the trip avatar generation system 124 automaticallyselects a plurality of avatar customizations to represent the trip basedon the plurality of media generated by the user during the given timeinterval. For example, the trip avatar generation system 124 selects abriefcase rather than a suitcase if the trip lasted a first amount oftime that exceeds a threshold. The trip avatar generation system 124also selects an airplane rather than a car as the avatar customizationif the client device 102 traveled over a certain threshold distance froma home location.

At operation 505, the trip avatar generation system 124 automaticallygenerates a trip-based avatar for the user based on the plurality ofavatar customizations. For example, as shown in FIG. 6 , trip avatargeneration system 124 presents a tile that includes a map representing adestination of a trip previously taken by a user and a travel avatar610.

In some embodiments, the trip avatar generation system 124 generates anavatar that collectively represents media captured by a client device102. Specifically, the trip avatar generation system 124 selects a groupof media assets (e.g., media assets captured by a given client device102 at a particular location, within a particular time interval, orshared with particular users). The trip avatar generation system 124then selects a plurality of avatar customizations to the group of mediaassets and automatically generates an avatar for the user based on theplurality of avatar customizations. In this example, rather than theavatar being specific to a trip taken by a user, the avatar representsan event associated with the user by modifying a plurality ofcustomizations of the avatar, each customization associated with adifferent attribute determined from the group of media assets.

FIGS. 6-8 show illustrative inputs and outputs of the trip avatargeneration system 124, according to example embodiments. As shown inFIG. 6 , trip avatar generation system 124 presents a tile that includesa map representing a destination of a trip previously taken by a userand a travel avatar 610. The tile may be generated and presented by thetrip avatar generation system 124 in response to determining that thetrip was taken more than 24 hours ago. For example, the tile may begenerated in response to determining that the client device 102 returnedto the home location and remained at the home location for more than 24hours after visiting the travel destinations.

The trip avatar generation system 124 customizes the travel avatar 610with a combination of avatar customizations. For example, the tripavatar generation system 124 presents a facial expression of the travelavatar 610 as being happy because the trip avatar generation system 124determines that the user was excited most of the time while on the tripbased on the media captured by the client device 102 while on the trip.For example, the trip avatar generation system 124 may isolate andanalyze facial expressions in the media captured by the client device102 and map each facial expression to a corresponding mood. The tripavatar generation system 124 identifies a majority of the moods that aremapped to the facial expressions as being happy and in responsedetermines that the user was excited most of the time while on the trip.In some cases, the trip avatar generation system 124 computes an averagehappiness score for each of the media captured by the client device 102and if the average happiness score of all the media captured by theclient device 102 while on the trip exceeds a given threshold or if aproportion of media with a happiness score exceeds a threshold, then thetrip avatar generation system 124 determines that the user was excitedfor most of the time during the trip.

The trip avatar generation system 124 presents a carrying case 630 thatis a briefcase as another avatar customization because the trip avatargeneration system 124 determines that the trip lasted less than twoweeks. For example, the trip avatar generation system 124 selectsbetween two different types of carrying case avatars, shown in FIG. 7 .A first type of carrying case avatars 710 corresponds to trips that lastless than a threshold period of time. The first type of carrying caseavatars 710 includes a first avatar carrying a briefcase and a secondavatar not carrying any carrying case. The trip avatar generation system124 selects randomly between the first and second avatars of the firsttype of carrying case avatars 710 in response to determining that thetrip lasted less than the threshold period of time. A second type ofcarrying case avatars 720 corresponds to trips that last more than thethreshold period of time. The second type of carrying case avatars 720includes a first avatar carrying a suitcase (larger than the briefcase)and in a first pose (walking) and a second avatar carrying the suitcaseand in a second pose (leaning against the suitcase). The trip avatargeneration system 124 selects randomly between the first and secondavatars of the second type of carrying case avatars 720 in response todetermining that the trip lasted more than the threshold period of time.

The trip avatar generation system 124 presents the avatar using a car620 as a mode of transportation in response to determining that thedistance between the destinations and the home location exceeds a firstthreshold (e.g., 60 miles) but is less than a second threshold (e.g.,400 miles). For example, the trip avatar generation system 124 selectsbetween two different types of mode of transportations, shown in FIG. 8. A first type of mode of transportation avatars 810 corresponds totrips that are more than a threshold distance away from the homelocation. The first type of mode of transportation avatars 810 includesa first avatar flying a plane of a first type and a second avatar flyinga plane of a second type. The trip avatar generation system 124 selectsrandomly between the first and second avatars of the first type of modeof transportation avatars 810 in response to determining that the tripwas more than a threshold distance away from the home location. A secondtype of mode of transportation avatars 820 corresponds to trips that areless than the threshold distance to the home location. The second typeof mode of transportation avatars 820 includes a first avatar driving acar of a first type and a second avatar driving a car of a second type(or in a train or bus). The trip avatar generation system 124 selectsrandomly between the first and second avatars of the second type of modeof transportation avatars 820 in response to determining that the tripwas less than the threshold distance away from the home location.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example software architecture906, which may be used in conjunction with various hardwarearchitectures herein described. FIG. 9 is a non-limiting example of asoftware architecture and it will be appreciated that many otherarchitectures may be implemented to facilitate the functionalitydescribed herein. The software architecture 906 may execute on hardwaresuch as machine 1000 of FIG. 10 that includes, among other things,processors 1004, memory 1014, and input/output (I/O) components 1018. Arepresentative hardware layer 952 is illustrated and can represent, forexample, the machine 1000 of FIG. 10 . The representative hardware layer952 includes a processing unit 954 having associated executableinstructions 904. Executable instructions 904 represent the executableinstructions of the software architecture 906, including implementationof the methods, components, and so forth described herein. The hardwarelayer 952 also includes memory and/or storage modules memory/storage956, which also have executable instructions 904. The hardware layer 952may also comprise other hardware 958.

In the example architecture of FIG. 9 , the software architecture 906may be conceptualized as a stack of layers where each layer providesparticular functionality. For example, the software architecture 906 mayinclude layers such as an operating system 902, libraries 920,frameworks/middleware 918, applications 916, and a presentation layer914. Operationally, the applications 916 and/or other components withinthe layers may invoke API calls 908 through the software stack andreceive messages 912 in response to the API calls 908. The layersillustrated are representative in nature and not all softwarearchitectures have all layers. For example, some mobile or specialpurpose operating systems may not provide a frameworks/middleware 918,while others may provide such a layer. Other software architectures mayinclude additional or different layers.

The operating system 902 may manage hardware resources and providecommon services. The operating system 902 may include, for example, akernel 922, services 924, and drivers 926. The kernel 922 may act as anabstraction layer between the hardware and the other software layers.For example, the kernel 922 may be responsible for memory management,processor management (e.g., scheduling), component management,networking, security settings, and so on. The services 924 may provideother common services for the other software layers. The drivers 926 areresponsible for controlling or interfacing with the underlying hardware.For instance, the drivers 926 include display drivers, camera drivers,Bluetooth® drivers, flash memory drivers, serial communication drivers(e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB) drivers), Wi-Fi® drivers, audiodrivers, power management drivers, and so forth depending on thehardware configuration.

The libraries 920 provide a common infrastructure that is used by theapplications 916 and/or other components and/or layers. The libraries920 provide functionality that allows other software components toperform tasks in an easier fashion than to interface directly with theunderlying operating system 902 functionality (e.g., kernel 922,services 924 and/or drivers 926). The libraries 920 may include systemlibraries 944 (e.g., C standard library) that may provide functions suchas memory allocation functions, string manipulation functions,mathematical functions, and the like. In addition, the libraries 920 mayinclude API libraries 946 such as media libraries (e.g., libraries tosupport presentation and manipulation of various media format such asMPREG4, H.264, MP3, AAC, AMR, JPG, PNG), graphics libraries (e.g., anOpenGL framework that may be used to render two-dimensional andthree-dimensional in a graphic content on a display), database libraries(e.g., SQLite that may provide various relational database functions),web libraries (e.g., WebKit that may provide web browsingfunctionality), and the like. The libraries 920 may also include a widevariety of other libraries 948 to provide many other APIs to theapplications 916 and other software components/modules.

The frameworks/middleware 918 (also sometimes referred to as middleware)provide a higher-level common infrastructure that may be used by theapplications 916 and/or other software components/modules. For example,the frameworks/middleware 918 may provide various graphic UI (GUI)functions, high-level resource management, high-level location services,and so forth. The frameworks/middleware 918 may provide a broad spectrumof other APIs that may be utilized by the applications 916 and/or othersoftware components/modules, some of which may be specific to aparticular operating system 902 or platform.

The applications 916 include built-in applications 938 and/orthird-party applications 940. Examples of representative built-inapplications 938 may include, but are not limited to, a contactsapplication, a browser application, a book reader application, alocation application, a media application, a messaging application,and/or a game application. Third-party applications 940 may include anapplication developed using the ANDROID™ or IOS™ software developmentkit (SDK) by an entity other than the vendor of the particular platform,and may be mobile software running on a mobile operating system such asIOS™, ANDROID™, WINDOWS® Phone, or other mobile operating systems. Thethird-party applications 940 may invoke the API calls 908 provided bythe mobile operating system (such as operating system 902) to facilitatefunctionality described herein.

The applications 916 may use built-in operating system functions (e.g.,kernel 922, services 924, and/or drivers 926), libraries 920, andframeworks/middleware 918 to create UIs to interact with users of thesystem. Alternatively, or additionally, in some systems, interactionswith a user may occur through a presentation layer, such as presentationlayer 914. In these systems, the application/component “logic” can beseparated from the aspects of the application/component that interactwith a user.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating components of a machine 1000,according to some example embodiments, able to read instructions from amachine-readable medium (e.g., a machine-readable storage medium) andperform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.Specifically, FIG. 10 shows a diagrammatic representation of the machine1000 in the example form of a computer system, within which instructions1010 (e.g., software, a program, an application, an applet, an app, orother executable code) for causing the machine 1000 to perform any oneor more of the methodologies discussed herein may be executed. As such,the instructions 1010 may be used to implement modules or componentsdescribed herein. The instructions 1010 transform the general,non-programmed machine 1000 into a particular machine 1000 programmed tocarry out the described and illustrated functions in the mannerdescribed. In alternative embodiments, the machine 1000 operates as astandalone device or may be coupled (e.g., networked) to other machines.In a networked deployment, the machine 1000 may operate in the capacityof a server machine or a client machine in a server-client networkenvironment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed)network environment. The machine 1000 may comprise, but not be limitedto, a server computer, a client computer, a personal computer (PC), atablet computer, a laptop computer, a netbook, a set-top box (STB), apersonal digital assistant (PDA), an entertainment media system, acellular telephone, a smart phone, a mobile device, a wearable device(e.g., a smart watch), a smart home device (e.g., a smart appliance),other smart devices, a web appliance, a network router, a networkswitch, a network bridge, or any machine capable of executing theinstructions 1010, sequentially or otherwise, that specify actions to betaken by machine 1000. Further, while only a single machine 1000 isillustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include acollection of machines that individually or jointly execute theinstructions 1010 to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein.

The machine 1000 may include processors 1004, memory/storage 1006, andI/O components 1018, which may be configured to communicate with eachother such as via a bus 1002. In an example embodiment, the processors1004 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a reduced instruction setcomputing (RISC) processor, a complex instruction set computing (CISC)processor, a graphics processing unit (GPU), a digital signal processor(DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), aradio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), another processor, or anysuitable combination thereof) may include, for example, a processor 1008and a processor 1012 that may execute the instructions 1010. The term“processor” is intended to include multi-core processors 1004 that maycomprise two or more independent processors (sometimes referred to as“cores”) that may execute instructions contemporaneously. Although FIG.10 shows multiple processors 1004, the machine 1000 may include a singleprocessor with a single core, a single processor with multiple cores(e.g., a multi-core processor), multiple processors with a single core,multiple processors with multiple cores, or any combination thereof.

The memory/storage 1006 may include a memory 1014, such as a mainmemory, or other memory storage, and a storage unit 1016, bothaccessible to the processors 1004 such as via the bus 1002. The storageunit 1016 and memory 1014 store the instructions 1010 embodying any oneor more of the methodologies or functions described herein. Theinstructions 1010 may also reside, completely or partially, within thememory 1014, within the storage unit 1016, within at least one of theprocessors 1004 (e.g., within the processor's cache memory), or anysuitable combination thereof, during execution thereof by the machine1000. Accordingly, the memory 1014, the storage unit 1016, and thememory of processors 1004 are examples of machine-readable media.

The I/O components 1018 may include a wide variety of components toreceive input, provide output, produce output, transmit information,exchange information, capture measurements, and so on. The specific I/Ocomponents 1018 that are included in a particular machine 1000 willdepend on the type of machine. For example, portable machines such asmobile phones will likely include a touch input device or other suchinput mechanisms, while a headless server machine will likely notinclude such a touch input device. It will be appreciated that the I/Ocomponents 1018 may include many other components that are not shown inFIG. 10 . The I/O components 1018 are grouped according to functionalitymerely for simplifying the following discussion and the grouping is inno way limiting. In various example embodiments, the I/O components 1018may include output components 1026 and input components 1028. The outputcomponents 1026 may include visual components (e.g., a display such as aplasma display panel (PDP), a light emitting diode (LED) display, aliquid crystal display (LCD), a projector, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)),acoustic components (e.g., speakers), haptic components (e.g., avibratory motor, resistance mechanisms), other signal generators, and soforth. The input components 1028 may include alphanumeric inputcomponents (e.g., a keyboard, a touch screen configured to receivealphanumeric input, a photo-optical keyboard, or other alphanumericinput components), point-based input components (e.g., a mouse, atouchpad, a trackball, a joystick, a motion sensor, or other pointinginstrument), tactile input components (e.g., a physical button, a touchscreen that provides location and/or force of touches or touch gestures,or other tactile input components), audio input components (e.g., amicrophone), and the like.

In further example embodiments, the I/O components 1018 may includebiometric components 1039, motion components 1034, environmentalcomponents 1036, or position components 1038 among a wide array of othercomponents. For example, the biometric components 1039 may includecomponents to detect expressions (e.g., hand expressions, facialexpressions, vocal expressions, body gestures, or eye tracking), measurebiosignals (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature,perspiration, or brain waves), identify a person (e.g., voiceidentification, retinal identification, facial identification,fingerprint identification, or electroencephalogram basedidentification), and the like. The motion components 1034 may includeacceleration sensor components (e.g., accelerometer), gravitation sensorcomponents, rotation sensor components (e.g., gyroscope), and so forth.The environmental components 1036 may include, for example, illuminationsensor components (e.g., photometer), temperature sensor components(e.g., one or more thermometer that detect ambient temperature),humidity sensor components, pressure sensor components (e.g.,barometer), acoustic sensor components (e.g., one or more microphonesthat detect background noise), proximity sensor components (e.g.,infrared sensors that detect nearby objects), gas sensors (e.g., gasdetection sensors to detection concentrations of hazardous gases forsafety or to measure pollutants in the atmosphere), or other componentsthat may provide indications, measurements, or signals corresponding toa surrounding physical environment. The position components 1038 mayinclude location sensor components (e.g., a GPS receiver component),altitude sensor components (e.g., altimeters or barometers that detectair pressure from which altitude may be derived), orientation sensorcomponents (e.g., magnetometers), and the like.

Communication may be implemented using a wide variety of technologies.The I/O components 1018 may include communication components 1040operable to couple the machine 1000 to a network 1037 or devices 1029via coupling 1024 and coupling 1022, respectively. For example, thecommunication components 1040 may include a network interface componentor other suitable device to interface with the network 1037. In furtherexamples, communication components 1040 may include wired communicationcomponents, wireless communication components, cellular communicationcomponents, Near Field Communication (NFC) components, Bluetooth®components (e.g., Bluetooth® Low Energy), Wi-Fi® components, and othercommunication components to provide communication via other modalities.The devices 1029 may be another machine or any of a wide variety ofperipheral devices (e.g., a peripheral device coupled via a USB).

Moreover, the communication components 1040 may detect identifiers orinclude components operable to detect identifiers. For example, thecommunication components 1040 may include Radio Frequency Identification(RFID) tag reader components, NFC smart tag detection components,optical reader components (e.g., an optical sensor to detectone-dimensional bar codes such as Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code,multi-dimensional bar codes such as Quick Response (QR) code, Azteccode, Data Matrix, Dataglyph, MaxiCode, PDF417, Ultra Code, UCC RSS-2Dbar code, and other optical codes), or acoustic detection components(e.g., microphones to identify tagged audio signals). In addition, avariety of information may be derived via the communication components1040, such as location via Internet Protocol (IP) geo-location, locationvia Wi-Fi® signal triangulation, location via detecting a NFC beaconsignal that may indicate a particular location, and so forth.

Glossary

“CARRIER SIGNAL” in this context refers to any intangible medium that iscapable of storing, encoding, or carrying transitory or non-transitoryinstructions for execution by the machine, and includes digital oranalog communications signals or other intangible medium to facilitatecommunication of such instructions. Instructions may be transmitted orreceived over the network using a transitory or non-transitorytransmission medium via a network interface device and using any one ofa number of well-known transfer protocols.

“CLIENT DEVICE” in this context refers to any machine that interfaces toa communications network to obtain resources from one or more serversystems or other client devices. A client device may be, but is notlimited to, a mobile phone, desktop computer, laptop, PDAs, smartphones, tablets, ultra books, netbooks, laptops, multi-processorsystems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, gameconsoles, set-top boxes, or any other communication device that a usermay use to access a network.

“COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK” in this context refers to one or more portionsof a network that may be an ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, avirtual private network (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a wirelessLAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), ametropolitan area network (MAN), the Internet, a portion of theInternet, a portion of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), aplain old telephone service (POTS) network, a cellular telephonenetwork, a wireless network, a Wi-Fi® network, another type of network,or a combination of two or more such networks. For example, a network ora portion of a network may include a wireless or cellular network andthe coupling may be a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) connection, aGlobal System for Mobile communications (GSM) connection, or other typeof cellular or wireless coupling. In this example, the coupling mayimplement any of a variety of types of data transfer technology, such asSingle Carrier Radio Transmission Technology (1×RTT), Evolution-DataOptimized (EVDO) technology, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)technology, Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) technology,third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) including 3G, fourthgeneration wireless (4G) networks, Universal Mobile TelecommunicationsSystem (UMTS), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), WorldwideInteroperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Long Term Evolution (LTE)standard, others defined by various standard setting organizations,other long range protocols, or other data transfer technology.

“EPHEMERAL MESSAGE” in this context refers to a message that isaccessible for a time-limited duration. An ephemeral message may be atext, an image, a video, and the like. The access time for the ephemeralmessage may be set by the message sender. Alternatively, the access timemay be a default setting or a setting specified by the recipient.Regardless of the setting technique, the message is transitory.

“MACHINE-READABLE MEDIUM” in this context refers to a component, device,or other tangible media able to store instructions and data temporarilyor permanently and may include, but is not limited to, random-accessmemory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), buffer memory, flash memory,optical media, magnetic media, cache memory, other types of storage(e.g., Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM)) and/or anysuitable combination thereof. The term “machine-readable medium” shouldbe taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., acentralized or distributed database, or associated caches and servers)able to store instructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shallalso be taken to include any medium, or combination of multiple media,that is capable of storing instructions (e.g., code) for execution by amachine, such that the instructions, when executed by one or moreprocessors of the machine, cause the machine to perform any one or moreof the methodologies described herein. Accordingly, a “machine-readablemedium” refers to a single storage apparatus or device, as well as“cloud-based” storage systems or storage networks that include multiplestorage apparatus or devices. The term “machine-readable medium”excludes signals per se.

“COMPONENT” in this context refers to a device, physical entity, orlogic having boundaries defined by function or subroutine calls, branchpoints, APIs, or other technologies that provide for the partitioning ormodularization of particular processing or control functions. Componentsmay be combined via their interfaces with other components to carry outa machine process. A component may be a packaged functional hardwareunit designed for use with other components and a part of a program thatusually performs a particular function of related functions. Componentsmay constitute either software components (e.g., code embodied on amachine-readable medium) or hardware components. A “hardware component”is a tangible unit capable of performing certain operations and may beconfigured or arranged in a certain physical manner. In various exampleembodiments, one or more computer systems (e.g., a standalone computersystem, a client computer system, or a server computer system) or one ormore hardware components of a computer system (e.g., a processor or agroup of processors) may be configured by software (e.g., an applicationor application portion) as a hardware component that operates to performcertain operations as described herein.

A hardware component may also be implemented mechanically,electronically, or any suitable combination thereof. For example, ahardware component may include dedicated circuitry or logic that ispermanently configured to perform certain operations. A hardwarecomponent may be a special-purpose processor, such as aField-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or an ASIC. A hardware componentmay also include programmable logic or circuitry that is temporarilyconfigured by software to perform certain operations. For example, ahardware component may include software executed by a general-purposeprocessor or other programmable processor. Once configured by suchsoftware, hardware components become specific machines (or specificcomponents of a machine) uniquely tailored to perform the configuredfunctions and are no longer general-purpose processors. It will beappreciated that the decision to implement a hardware componentmechanically, in dedicated and permanently configured circuitry, or intemporarily configured circuitry (e.g., configured by software) may bedriven by cost and time considerations. Accordingly, the phrase“hardware component” (or “hardware-implemented component”) should beunderstood to encompass a tangible entity, be that an entity that isphysically constructed, permanently configured (e.g., hardwired), ortemporarily configured (e.g., programmed) to operate in a certain manneror to perform certain operations described herein. Consideringembodiments in which hardware components are temporarily configured(e.g., programmed), each of the hardware components need not beconfigured or instantiated at any one instance in time. For example,where a hardware component comprises a general-purpose processorconfigured by software to become a special-purpose processor, thegeneral-purpose processor may be configured as respectively differentspecial-purpose processors (e.g., comprising different hardwarecomponents) at different times. Software accordingly configures aparticular processor or processors, for example, to constitute aparticular hardware component at one instance of time and to constitutea different hardware component at a different instance of time.

Hardware components can provide information to, and receive informationfrom, other hardware components. Accordingly, the described hardwarecomponents may be regarded as being communicatively coupled. Wheremultiple hardware components exist contemporaneously, communications maybe achieved through signal transmission (e.g., over appropriate circuitsand buses) between or among two or more of the hardware components. Inembodiments in which multiple hardware components are configured orinstantiated at different times, communications between such hardwarecomponents may be achieved, for example, through the storage andretrieval of information in memory structures to which the multiplehardware components have access. For example, one hardware component mayperform an operation and store the output of that operation in a memorydevice to which it is communicatively coupled. A further hardwarecomponent may then, at a later time, access the memory device toretrieve and process the stored output.

Hardware components may also initiate communications with input oroutput devices, and can operate on a resource (e.g., a collection ofinformation). The various operations of example methods described hereinmay be performed, at least partially, by one or more processors that aretemporarily configured (e.g., by software) or permanently configured toperform the relevant operations. Whether temporarily or permanentlyconfigured, such processors may constitute processor-implementedcomponents that operate to perform one or more operations or functionsdescribed herein. As used herein, “processor-implemented component”refers to a hardware component implemented using one or more processors.Similarly, the methods described herein may be at least partiallyprocessor-implemented, with a particular processor or processors beingan example of hardware. For example, at least some of the operations ofa method may be performed by one or more processors orprocessor-implemented components. Moreover, the one or more processorsmay also operate to support performance of the relevant operations in a“cloud computing” environment or as a “software as a service” (SaaS).For example, at least some of the operations may be performed by a groupof computers (as examples of machines including processors), with theseoperations being accessible via a network (e.g., the Internet) and viaone or more appropriate interfaces (e.g., an API). The performance ofcertain of the operations may be distributed among the processors, notonly residing within a single machine, but deployed across a number ofmachines. In some example embodiments, the processors orprocessor-implemented components may be located in a single geographiclocation (e.g., within a home environment, an office environment, or aserver farm). In other example embodiments, the processors orprocessor-implemented components may be distributed across a number ofgeographic locations.

“PROCESSOR” in this context refers to any circuit or virtual circuit (aphysical circuit emulated by logic executing on an actual processor)that manipulates data values according to control signals (e.g.,“commands,” “op codes,” “machine code,”, etc.) and which producescorresponding output signals that are applied to operate a machine. Aprocessor may, for example, be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), aReduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) processor, a ComplexInstruction Set Computing (CISC) processor, a Graphics Processing Unit(GPU), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an ASIC, a Radio-FrequencyIntegrated Circuit (RFIC) or any combination thereof. A processor mayfurther be a multi-core processor having two or more independentprocessors (sometimes referred to as “cores”) that may executeinstructions contemporaneously.

“TIMESTAMP” in this context refers to a sequence of characters orencoded information identifying when a certain event occurred, forexample giving date and time of day, sometimes accurate to a smallfraction of a second.

Changes and modifications may be made to the disclosed embodimentswithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure. These andother changes or modifications are intended to be included within thescope of the present disclosure, as expressed in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: automatically selecting aplurality of avatar customizations based on a plurality of mediacaptured during a given time interval; selecting a first customizationof the plurality of avatar customizations associated with a firstattribute in response to determining that a first number of theplurality of media associated with the first attribute exceeds a firstminimum threshold value; and selecting a second customization of theplurality of avatar customizations associated with a second attribute inresponse to determining that a second number of the plurality of mediaassociated with the second attribute exceeds a second minimum thresholdvalue that is greater than the first minimum threshold value.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: retrieving the plurality of mediagenerated by a client device during a given time interval correspondingto a trip; and in response to determining that a specified period oftime has passed since the client device has returned to a home locationafter being at a different location, automatically generating an avatarbased on a plurality of avatar customizations corresponding to the firstand second customizations.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:obtaining location information for the plurality of media; determining ahome location; and determining that a travel location indicated by thelocation information is spaced from the home location by more than a sthreshold distance.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:determining that a client device has been at a different location than ahome location for more than a specified threshold; and generating agiven time interval based on a first time at which the client device hasleft the home location and a second time at which the client devicereturned to the home location.
 5. The method of claim 4, furthercomprising: determining a duration of time spent on a trip based on thegiven time interval; and selecting the first avatar customization basedon the duration of time spent on the trip, such that the first avatarcustomization is of a first type based on the duration of time spent onthe trip being more than a specified amount and is of a second typebased on the duration of time spent on the trip being less than thespecified amount.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first type ofavatar customization comprises a first type of suitcase and the secondtype of avatar customization comprises a second type of suitcase.
 7. Themethod of claim 5, further comprising randomly selecting between aplurality of avatar customizations of the first type for use as thefirst avatar customization based on the duration of time spent on thetrip being more than the specified amount.
 8. The method of claim 5,further comprising generating a title for an avatar based on a quantityof destinations visited during the trip.
 9. The method of claim 5,further comprising: determining a destination of the trip based on theplurality of media; computing a distance between the destination of thetrip and a home location of the client device; and in response todetermining that the distance exceeds a distance threshold, selectingthe second avatar customization based on the distance between thedestination of the trip and the home location, such that the secondavatar customization is of a third type based on the distance being morethan the distance threshold and is of a fourth type based on thedistance being less than the distance threshold.
 10. The method of claim9, further comprising randomly selecting between a plurality of avatarcustomizations of the third type for use as the second avatarcustomization based on the distance being more than the distancethreshold.
 11. The method of claim 9, further comprising randomlyselecting between a plurality of avatar customizations of the fourthtype for use as the second avatar customization based on the distancebeing less than the distance threshold.
 12. The method of claim 9,wherein the second avatar customization comprises a mode oftransportation to the destination from the home location, and whereinthe third type of avatar customization comprises an airplane and thesecond type of avatar customization comprises a car.
 13. The method ofclaim 5, further comprising: determining a destination of the trip basedon the plurality of media; comparing weather at the destination of thetrip to weather at a home location of the client device; and in responseto determining that the weather at the destination differs from theweather at the home location, selecting the second avatar customizationbased on the weather at the destination.
 14. The method of claim 1,further comprising: generating a plurality of attributes based on theplurality of media.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:ranking the plurality of attributes; and selecting a subset of theplurality of attributes having a rank that exceeds a specified value,wherein the plurality of avatar customizations is selected based on thesubset of the plurality of attributes.
 16. The method of claim 1,further comprising: determining a duration of time that has elapsedsince a client device has returned to a home location after being at adifferent location; and generating a title for an avatar based on theduration of time that has elapsed since the client device has returnedto the home location after being at the different location.
 17. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: determining an activity performedon a trip based on the plurality of attributes; and increasing rankassociated with the activity in response to determining that theactivity is different than other activities.
 18. A system comprising: aprocessor configured to perform operations comprising: automaticallyselecting a plurality of avatar customizations based on a plurality ofmedia captured during a given time interval; selecting a firstcustomization of the plurality of avatar customizations associated witha same first attribute in response to determining that a first number ofthe plurality of media associated with the same first attribute exceedsa first minimum threshold value; and selecting a second customization ofthe plurality of avatar customizations associated with a same secondattribute in response to determining that a second number of theplurality of media associated with the same second attribute exceeds asecond minimum threshold value that is greater than the first minimumthreshold value.
 19. The system of claim 18, the operations furthercomprising: retrieving the plurality of media generated by a clientdevice during a given time interval corresponding to a trip; and inresponse to determining that a specified period of time has elapsedsince the client device has returned to a home location after being at adifferent location, automatically generating an avatar based on aplurality of avatar customizations corresponding to the first and secondcustomizations.
 20. A non-transitory machine-readable storage mediumthat includes instructions that, when executed by one or more processorsof a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:automatically selecting a plurality of avatar customizations based on aplurality of media captured during a given time interval; selecting afirst customization of the plurality of avatar customizations associatedwith a same first attribute in response to determining that a firstnumber of the plurality of media associated with the same firstattribute exceeds a first minimum threshold value; and selecting asecond customization of the plurality of avatar customizationsassociated with a same second attribute in response to determining thata second number of the plurality of media associated with the samesecond attribute exceeds a second minimum threshold value that isgreater than the first minimum threshold value.